Shanghai taps Taylor Swift to grow China’s economy

The entertainment industry is stepping up for China’s economy in a week that has been dominated by conversations about TikTok and potential alternative apps and investments.

The focus has shifted to the American music icon, Taylor Swift. Shanghai has begun preliminary conversations with the singer and songwriter about organizing a concert this year.

The agenda by Chinese cities aims to attract international celebrities and stimulate the economy. According to reports,  Zhang Qi, the deputy director of Shanghai’s culture and tourism bureau, stated that local officials had hosted Swift’s team for preliminary discussions in the municipality.

In a statement, he said, “As for whether it will ultimately happen, it depends on the market and the attractiveness of our city. However, we are optimistic and think that there may be hope for this year.”

The report was released one month after Swift ended her Eras Tour. The tour set a new record, with the final performance in Vancouver, Canada. The estimated global economic impact was within the remarkable range of $13 to $28 billion, with 10.1 million fans attending 149 events.

Now, the second-largest economy in the world is set to step up and allow entertainment to work for it. It will follow in the footsteps of the United States, which has made the most of its entertainment industry.

The demand for international performances in China

In recent years, Shanghai has become a thriving center for cultural events. The city has hosted several large-scale commercial performances. To that end, there has also been a significant increase in the demand for live performances. The capital is frequently the initial destination for international celebrities during their mainland China tours.

Apparently, Japan and Singapore were the sole Asian destinations on Swift’s record-setting Eras Tour.

The concert documentary Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which was released globally in October 2024, was the highest-grossing music documentary in Chinese Box Office history.  The movie screened in China for 69 days, attracting over 2 million viewers and grossing 100 million yuan ($13.8 million). 

Most followed international singers in China biggest music platforms (QQ, KuGou, NetEase)

#1. Taylor Swift (25M)
#2. BIGBANG (20M)
#3. Justin Bieber (18M)
#4. Blackpink (16M)
#5. G-Dragon (12M)
#6. EXO (11M) pic.twitter.com/nqgQIpwmsJ

— KLIFE (@8KLIFE) December 9, 2024

Additionally, local officials are placing their expectations on live music performances to stimulate their economies. This is prompting other Chinese cities to compete for the opportunity to host renowned singers. 

Tourism and consumer spending are driven by the willingness of many fans, particularly the youth, to travel to other cities for major concerts.

For instance, last month, a tourism official in Hangzhou, China, expressed anticipation that Swift would perform in his country. This happened after British artist Ed Sheeran confirmed his intentions to play six gigs in Hangzhou in February and March, the only Chinese stop on his next tour.

Also, this year, the southern island province of Hainan has extended an invitation to rap superstars such as Travis Scott and Cardi B to perform. 

Notably, two sold-out Kanye West concerts in Hainan in September generated an estimated 700 million yuan ($95.5 million) in tourism revenue.

Other Western megastars who have visited China lately include American singer Mariah Carey, who played two gigs in Beijing in September. In October, John Legend performed in Beijing and Shanghai, while in December, British artists Jessie J and James Blunt performed in several locations around China.

China’s government to loosen regulations on international acts

The process of hosting international performances in China is complicated and requires the ability to navigate a complex web of regulations and restrictions.

In the past, the Chinese government has been hesitant to allow big events. Most especially ones with foreign singers, out of fears that they would change Chinese culture and threaten public safety.

However, advisers to the Shanghai government referred to celebrities like Swift as “walking GDP” due to their tremendous economic influence. They advocated for lesser limitations on international performers in order to stage more high-profile shows.

As a result, the Shanghai municipal government’s counselors’ office posted on its social media account that government departments should simplify the process of obtaining visas, approvals, and customs in order to attract top-tier talent.

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